Hair curler



April 6, 1937. 5 ANDREW 2,076,358

HAIR CURLER Filed April 29, 1936 Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to hair curlers, and its object is to provide a device of simple, inexpensive and efficient construction which can be repeatedly used in the formation of flat curls, and which device when in use can be worn with ease and comfort.

A hair curler embodying my invention comprises a fiat base of soft yielding material upon which the desired curl is formed, and a clamping element detachably interlocked with the base and bendable thereover in a manner to retain the curl in form. Preferably the base comprises superposed plies or layers of soft extensible paper, such as crepe tissue, perforated to receive a transverse strip of pliable material which maintains the plies or layers of the base in close relation and also provides a curl clamping element; the surface of the layer presented to the curl being extensible to provide a protective fold for the curl and also being readily tearable from the base so as to present a fresh sanitary surface to a subsequently formed curl when the device is used in a succeeding curling operation, as will be hereinafter described. The scope of the invention is expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hair curler embodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device showing the upper layer of the multiple base element as forwardly extended, and representing a lock of hair as curled and placed on such layer.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the forward extension of the upper layer folded upon the curl.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the ends of the clamping member bent over upon the fold of the upper layer.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a multi-ply base element for use as a refill.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modification.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a soft flexible fiat base comprising, preferably, a multiplicity of superposed plies or layers, 1, of finely crinkled or crisped thin paper, known as crepe tissue, which material by virtue of its structure is capable of extension by means of the users fingers. The base is of suitable size and form to support a lock of hair in a so-called flat wheel curl. Such base A is represented as of generally circular form having its periphery interrupted by a recess or notch, 8, which latter enables the base to be placed in close relation to the roots of a lock of hair to be curled. The base also has formed through the body thereof two suitably-disposed openings, 9, adjacent to oppo site edges of the body through which is threaded an elongated strip, B, of pliable material which extends transversely of the base as shown, and serves to support the layers in close compact relation. This strip is of sufficient length to bridge and reinforce the space on the base between the openings 9 on one face thereof, and also to provide two retaining arms H] which, projecting beyond the respective lateral edges of the base on the other face thereof, are easily bendable toward each other and in clamping relation to the opposing surface of the base. Preferably the strip comprises a core of ductile wire, ll, having a braided covering of thread, l2, or other suitable material.

To use the form of hair curler described the look of hair to be curled is slightly dampened; the lower portion of the upper layer, 1, of the back is stretched or extended to form a flap as indicated at I3, and the base is placed with its recessed or notched portion 8 in proximity to. the roots of the lock to be curled. Such lock is then coiled upon the exposed surface of the upper layer, as seen in Fig. 2. The extended portion I3 of the layer is then folded over upon the curl, and the arms l0 bent toward each other transversely of the base, as seen in Fig. 4, so as to bear upon the fold of the upper layer and clamp the underlying curl upon the base. A band or ribbon may be applied to the head so as to hold the curler or curlers fiatwise until such time as the curl or curls have become set.

The described multi-layer base A affords an efficient foundation for the curl, and since the material of the layers is soft and yielding no discomfortable or unpleasant effect is produced by the contact of the curler with the head of the wearer. At the proper time, by the act of bending the arms l0 outward, the device can be easily unclamped for removal; and when the device is removed the upper layer of paper can be readily torn off from the pad-like base and discarded, thus presenting a fresh curl supporting surface on the base for use in a subsequent curl forming operation with the device.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides a simple, inexpensive and efficient hair curler which can be repeatedly used, and which device embodies a pad-like base element which is soft, comfortable and sanitary. Moreover, as the crepe tissue of which the base is preferably composed is treated with fireproofing material fire hazard is eliminated.

When in the repeated use of my improved hair curler the multiple layers of the base have become depleted to such an extent as to impair the efliciency of the device, the clamping strip B can be readily withdrawn from the base and applied to a fresh base or refill, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing I have illustrated a modification of my invention wherein the base consists of a layer of felt or similar soft fabric suitably pierced for the passage of the elongated clamping element. In the use of a base of this character the hair is curled thereon as in the;

first described form and the arms of the clamping element are bent over upon the curl.

I claim v r 1. A hair curler for clamping fiat curls, embodying a small fiat base 'havingopenin s through the body thereof and consisting of -su-- perposed layers of crepe tissue slightly larger than. the curl, and a clamping elementextending transversely of said base and threaded through the said openings to :provide -laterally extending retaining membersbendable toward each other.

2. A hair curler for clamping: flat ourls,, embodying a small fiat base consisting of superposed layers of crepe tissue slightly larger -than e 1.1 i ie bendable supporting; and clamp ing element for said base, saidlayers being severally removable from saidelement, and each of. said layers bei'ng extensible to ..p rovide-,a fold portion.

3 A refill for a hair curler consisting of superposed flat layers of. paper. having spaced, openings therein to receive a supporting and clamping element.

4. A refill for a hair, curler consisting ofsuperposed fiat layersof, crepeftissue having spaced openings therein, to, receive a. supporting and clamping element.

5. A hair curler for. clamping flat curls, embody'ing a small flat, base of. soft yielding material slightly la'rger than, the curl; having spaced openings throughthe body thereof and'a clamping element extending transversely of said base and threaded through the said openings to bridge the space between the latter on one face of the base and also to provide laterally extending retaining members bendable toward each other on the other face of the base, the one edge of the base along one side of the clamping element being arranged to be placed under a flat curl of hair, a flap on the other side of the clamping element adapted to be folded over the top of the curl after which the retaining members are folded over the top of the flap.

6. A hair curler for clamping flat curls, embodying a small flat base of soft yielding material slightly larger than the curl, having spaced opening-s; through the body thereof and a clamping element extending transversely of said base and threaded through the said openings to bridge the space between the latter on one face of the base and also to provide laterally extendiin'g retaining members bendable towardi each other on the other race of' -tlre': base, the one-edge of the: base along on'e -side of the clamping-elm ment being, recess'ed' and arranged to be placed under a. fiatcurl'of hair; a-fi'ap on the'other side of the clamping element adapted to be folded over. thetop of. the curl after whichthe retaining members. are-folded over the topof the flap.

7,-A hair curler for clamping fiat. curls,l-embodying a small: flat base having'spacedopenings through the body thereof and consisting of superposed; layers of. crepe tissueslig'htl'y larger than the curl, and a clamping. element extending. transversely of said. base and threaded LUCY BRETT ANDREW. 

